The latest release of the PlantPAx process automation system from Rockwell Automation allows companies across multiple industries to improve operator effectiveness with automated procedures, enhanced visualization and new skid-integration capabilities.

The system’s new sequencer tool enables companies to easily automate process procedures, perform system modifications, and sequence actions directly through human-machine interface (HMI) faceplates. If a process change is necessary or an abnormal event occurs, a user with the appropriate login privileges can modify the sequence directly from the HMI screen, rather than waiting for a control system expert to modify the procedure code.

The PlantPAx system further extends operator effectiveness with a comprehensive HMI toolkit for effective display design and enhanced standards-based alarming. This allows the operator to focus directly on the process itself, reducing system downtime and incidents. The latest PlantPAx system also features an enhanced independent workstation (or network station) that offers companies more flexibility in plant design – especially when integrating best-of-breed skids into multiple plants worldwide.

“There is an industry trend to leverage process skids for quicker line and plant expansion to help reduce time-to-market,” Wright said. “However, integrating these process skids into a traditional distributed control system (DCS) can create complexities and increase costs. In fact, for a traditional DCS, integration accounts for 50 to 60 percent of the project costs for end users.”

For example, skid integration often requires custom data-mapping or duplicated code on the DCS. This is not the case with the PlantPAx system – the skid-based controller can be added as a native controller to the system. Enhanced independent workstation capabilities help reduce the cost of integration by allowing the skid to share common infrastructure resources, such as user accounts and security settings, without losing application independence. This allows companies to leverage the specific application expertise of multiple skid vendors while providing a consistent operator experience.

The Do-more Series PLC is the next generation programmable controller built on a strong PLC foundation that makes control applications easier to implement.

Do-more uses proven DirectLOGIC DL205 hardware for a flexible control platform and introduces a powerful, intuitive set of new programming tools.

This combination of Do-more H2 Series CPUs and the existing line of AutomationDirect 205 series I/O modules and base units creates an incredibly powerful micro modular PLC at a fraction of the cost of comparable PLCs and PACs.

In general usage, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) refers to propane, butane and their mixtures which remain liquid at room temperature under relatively low pressure. It occurs as a by-product in crude oil refining and as an associated gas in the exploitation of crude oil and natural gas. Apart from heating and domestic cooking, it also serves as a fuel for vehicles with an Otto engine. Therefore, the mixed gas is also called "propellant gas".

Liquefied gas, in contrast to crude oil, is not transported via pipelines but in large sea-going vessels, small barges, railway tank wagons and road tank vehicles to dealers or also directly to the liquefied gas tanks or vehicle gas stations of final consumers. The low pressure of propane and butane make this flexible transport of liquefied gas possible.

Rockwell Automation has released two new features in Allen-Bradley IntelliCENTER software – IntelliCENTER Integration Assistant and IntelliCENTER Energy – to accelerate the configuration time and enhance end users’ data-driven energy decisions.

With IntelliCENTER Integration Assistant, users can seamlessly integrate their IntelliCENTER Motor Control Centers (MCCs) into their Rockwell Software RSLogix 5000 programming software. This feature reduces programming time by automatically adding the Allen-Bradley CENTERLINE MCC devices to the RSLogix 5000 I/O tree. In addition, Integration Assistant also takes advantage of existing premier integration features to automatically create controller tags and IP address configuration in RSLogix 5000 software, reducing errors and the time it takes to configure the intelligent devices.

IntelliCENTER Integration Assistant enables faster installation and commissioning time, providing real-time, device-level information and higher productivity. “Manufacturers expect intuitive software packages that work together,” said Paul Krause, IntelliCENTER product manager, Rockwell Automation. “Integration Assistant enables customers to take advantage of information already in IntelliCENTER software and load it into RSLogix 5000, the premier controller programming software on the market. This makes commissioning faster, and results in time and cost savings.”

IntelliCENTER Energy offers a pre-configured setup of FactoryTalk EnergyMetrix software for intelligent motor control devices in the MCC, including variable speed drives, overload relays and SMCs. In addition, users can view energy consumption at the device level directly from IntelliCENTER software. With IntelliCENTER Energy, it becomes easier to monitor and manage energy usage in the industrial facility for cost savings, and allows for easy integration of IntelliCENTER MCCs into plantwide energy-management systems. IntelliCENTER Energy gives users the information necessary to make fact-based decisions to help them optimize energy usage, improve equipment performance, and even predict equipment failure.

“Powered by FactoryTalk EnergyMetrix software, IntelliCENTER Energy builds on the monitoring and diagnostic functionality that is currently offered in IntelliCENTER software,” said Krause. “This feature allows manufacturers to remotely monitor energy at the load level – where the devices are consuming energy – rather than at the utility level. This device-level information helps them implement the best energy decisions and can lead to energy savings.”

Yokogawa launched the wireless field products conforming to the ISA100.11a standard in 2010 and has led the business ever since. Now, Yokogawa has released a new, large-scale, reliable, next-generation plant-wide field wireless system.

In developing this system, which forms the core of field digital solutions, Yokogawa has focused on the following three key features.